Former Minister of Gender Affairs Otiko Afisa Djaba has urged the government to expedite the payment of arrears to school nutrition program caterers.
According to her, the government must pay these caterers what they are owed if they are to continue serving children in elementary schools. She emphasized the importance of the government improving the Program's terms and conditions for caterers.
Madam Dzaba cited price inflation and the high cost of goods as reasons for the government to increase the amount of money paid to these caterers, indicating that the government was being unjust to the caterers by delaying their payment.
Due to this, she disclosed that she supported the caterers' decision to engage in a strike on the grounds that they were fighting for their rights.
"The caterers have an excellent argument. And I feel compelled to support and defend them. Governments must promptly pay their arrears and increase their amount, as well as meet with them to discuss... They want to know when and what the increment will be."
Otiko Afisa Djaba
In addition, Madam Djaba demanded that the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, apologize to School Feeding Programme caterers in the region. She insisted that Mr. Mensah's response to the unpaid caterers who had recently presented him with a petition was inappropriate.
"The regional minister of the Ashanti region should have been more tolerant of them, and he owes them an apology for his conduct."
Otiko Afisa Djaba
The former minister for gender equality stated that the petitioning caterers were fighting for justice and had no intention of tarnishing the reputation of any government, contrary to what some individuals believed.
"When they petition, we must recognize that they are not attempting to embarrass or ruin anyone's career. They are defending their legal privileges. Fighting for your rights is about doing what is proper. Where there is no justice, there is anarchy. When they refuse to cook because they are not being compensated, nobody should claim that they are humiliating the government or anyone else. It is their responsibility, and they must be respected."
Otiko Afisa Djaba
Caterers under school nutrition prorgamme declare strike
The caterers under the School Feeding Programme have proclaimed a nationwide strike on April 27 due to the government's refusal to pay them their arrears and increase the per-child payment from 97 pesewas to GH3.50.
According to Kwame Amankwaah, the National Organizer of the School Feeding Association, caterers will only return to the kitchen if the government agrees to increase the per-child cost. He noted that caterers will not return to the kitchen until the government increases the per-child allowance from 97 pesewas to GHC3.50.
He explained that the skyrocketing cost of products and services makes it difficult for caterers to manage the 97 pesewas the government gives them, which has been in arrears.
"Why 97 pesewas for a child? One egg costs three Ghanaian cedis; what can you prepare for a child for 97 pesewas? And you expect us to cook, despite the fact that ingredients are costly and the allotted budget is woefully inadequate. If they can provide us with at least GH3.50 per infant, we can manage."
If the government engages them on their demands, Mr. Amankwaah stated that they could negotiate with their creditors to acquire additional supplies.
The National Organizer of the School Feeding Association stated that its members are disheartened by their inability to prepare meals for the dependent students.
"We are extremely unhappy that we cannot cook for the children. Some attend school specifically for the cuisine because they know they will always have something to eat there. Occasionally, we make sacrifices and purchase them water and other items."